Top 20 British TV Series of All Time

Does the UK have the best telly in the world? For this list, WatchMojoUK counts down the Top 20 British TV Series of All Time. We're looking at Britain's greatest television exports, from comedy to drama, including shows like Line of Duty, Doctor Who, Only Fools & Horses, and more classics. What do you think deserves a spot on this list? Let us know in the comments below!
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WatchMojoUK is your source for British Top 10s, covering popular shows like Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, Great British Bake Off, Coronation Street, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, The Graham Norton Show, Sherlock, and more! We also cover the latest in British Movies, Music and Pop Culture - We Top 10 it all!
#BritishTV #BBC #DoctorWho #OnlyFoolsAndHorses #DerryGirls

[@WatchMojoUK]

What's your favourite British show of all time? Top 10 TV Moments That Aged HORRIBLY kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpeUg5arYseHmtE

[@badfairy9554]

Doctor Who is the best.

[@nihkhdtigerson1599]

This is simply just a bad list. How does Spaced and Derry Girls get on it!! Dad's Army should be on it instead of either of those along with Jonathan Creek. My Family, Coupling are others that I like quite a bit. x:x

[@thriddoctor]

Doctor Who 1963-1984, best show ever. After that it was down hill to the woke modern crap that has 60% of viewers switching off.

[@badfairy9554]

@@thriddoctor that's not true and time is about moving forward. Try to be open to change it's good for the brain.

[@1971chrismiller]

What was not on this list was.. The Benny Hill Show My Family (which is kind of like a British Married... With Children)

[@Lisainmaine]

Broadchurch was one of my favorites. The combination of Olivia Coleman and David Tennant was priceless!

[@michaellewellyn9080]

With the lamest, most lazy, anticlimactic ending in TV world history

[@WatchMojoUK]

Great show!

[@DavidZ4-gg3dm]

It's very slow.

[@Dej24601]

Upstairs, Downstairs.

[@sheilabloom6735]

Yes. The series was too short.

[@fontheking5]

No Keeping Up Appearances ? No Mr Bean ? No A Touch Of Frost ? No Midsomer Murders ? No Heartbeat ? These shows are legends...

[@kanpur8745]

No Vera, no Shetland

[@kayeragdull217]

Prime Suspect

[@gladyshartmann9643]

Absolutely Fabulous and the Young Ones.

[@nbenefiel]

Foyle’s War, Doc Martin, Vera, Shetland, Grantchester, Call the Midwife are my faves

[@angelsinger4574]

You absolutely must do a part 2! Absolutely Fabulous, Father Ted, Are You Being Served?, Mr. Bean, The Young Ones, Only Fools and Horses, Keeping Up Appearances, Mr. Selfridge, the list just goes on and on.

[@danieltownley7436]

You want Only Fools and Horses in Part 2 as well? 😂

[@PLuMUK54]

I think that the big takeaway from this comments section is that it is impossible to do a top 20 of UK television. There are simply too many amazing shows.

[@Dej24601]

FOYLE’S WAR! Not only one of the best shows from the U.K., but probably one of the best written series to ever appear on television anywhere. Period setting is perfectly done, acting is out of this world, each episode includes several complex interwoven storylines done brilliantly. The combination of fiction and non-fiction, of personal stories and historical events has never been bettered. And then there is lead actor Michael Kitchen, who can convey more with a silent facial expression than many actors can with pages of dialogue.

[@JblackSupportTeam]

Absolutely true. British TV is the best in the world. And Foyle's War is my No.1

[@JavierZavaleta-ct1gy]

Definitely The Avengers!!! Who can forget John Steed and Mrs. Peel??? As Time goes By, and Are you being Served.

[@robertcoogan6421]

Yes! The Avengers! And Secret Agent; super cool!

[@Maroonbiscuit]

Great list but I loved ‘Yes, Minister’!

[@yvrkid7070]

Where is Prime Suspect starring Helen Mirren? And House of Cards starring Ian Richardson?

[@TubbsFarquhar]

The original House of Cards was so good!😊

[@MotherShipMedia]

Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes deserved a mention ...

[@duncancurtis5108]

Defo yes.

[@djmattblack]

The Gene Genie

[@lynerichard5306]

Absolutely

[@danieltilley888]

Quatermass, I Claudius, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Blake's 7, State of Play, Vera

[@armlovesmetal1036]

Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances, Last of the Summer Wine, As Time Goes By, Waiting for God, Allo Allo, The Thin Blue Line, One Foot in the Grave, The Avengers, The Vicar of Dibley and Father Ted should have been on this list. All of them are brilliant shows.

[@TheHylas53]

The bill

[@WatchMojoUK]

Awesome choices

[@DavidJones-pi8rl]

Plus Morse, Not the Nine O'clock News, Drop the dead Donkey, Alas Smith and Jones to name a few

[@user-uy3gt8mu1l]

Inbetweeners and Rising damp!

[@lawrencegerst8564]

No Inspector Morse? Insane.

[@arabellamileham9978]

Must admit, Endeavour is infinitely better!

[@Topcat1952]

@@arabellamileham9978 Hardly. Nobody is better than John Thaw

[@eggy4152]

What about Lewis or endeavour or even midsummer murders.

[@warriorsfan19]

They forgot “Are You Being Served?” Prime Suspect. Jonathan Creek

[@margaretreilly5792]

Midsomer Murders, Upstart Crow, Vicar of Dibley, Ghosts, Horrible histories. I mean this should be a far bigger list.

[@monykalynf3604]

UK Ghosts is so so so so superior to USA one!!

[@margaretreilly5792]

@@monykalynf3604 I totally agree. Couldn't get through the first episode.

[@murphbee]

Loved Upstart Crow!!

[@lawrencegerst8564]

No Upstairs Downstairs? Inconceivable!

[@monykalynf3604]

Came here to say that!!

[@Dej12328]

Yes, that series is what made British television go global and watched in all countries, not just the U.K. Despite the production values being a tiny fraction of what is expected today, rarely has a series become as beloved, and it was one of the first to inspire a following around the world.

[@lhall92201]

One of my parent's favorites ❤

[@alansmith1989]

Any list without 1967s `The Prisoner` anywhere on it, is no list to me.

[@pippavombr5856]

Poirot, Foyle's War, Father Ted, Inspector Morse, Lewis, Midsomer Murders, and I could go on, and on, and on, and on, and on........ I'm German and I can't get enough of British TV shows. They are the best 🩵💛👍

[@JblackSupportTeam]

Foyle's War and Poirot are also in my Top 5.

[@robertriedling6723]

Yes Minister/Prime Minister?

[@TristanTzara100]

Here here!

[@andrewkearley]

Well, I suppose there were a few acknowledgements in there that they did make tv shows before 2000.... The Avengers, The Prisoner, Thunderbirds, The Saint, Public Eye, Secret Army, The Onedin Line, I Claudius, Upstairs Downstairs, Dad's Army, Steptoe & Son, Blake's 7, Sapphire and Steel

[@Harldin]

It was past the 1/2 mark before we got a show that ended before 2000.

[@CitiesForTheFuture2030]

You might need to do a top 50. I mostly enjoy UK crime dramas, but many funny sitcoms too - Midsomer Murders, Silent Witness, Shetland, Agatha Raisin - The Thin Blue Line, Dinner Ladies, Black Books and Keeping Up Appearances - All Creatures Great & Small I'll probably remember more over the next few days. Pity the UK are not producing such great shows anymore. ITV usually produces the best TV at present.

[@TonyHavenMusic]

Literrally wanted to write this, they could do a top ten of just Graham Linehan

[@cainealexander-mccord2805]

Boy, did I love that "Thin Blue Line". We sucked up anything Atkinson did, and that one was outstanding. Playing merry hell trying to find it either on DVD in a format I can use or streaming or something. What a great show!

[@spaggymerbles]

Dad's Army, Mr Bean, Vicar of Dibley... I was expecting these on this list, surprised they didn't make it.

[@mishellegarrett9243]

I was sad to see Keeping up Appearances was left out. Brilliant comedy

[@blancatravels]

I was about to say the same thing!

[@fontheking5]

Yes, they must never have seen it, that show is beyond funny, and very good👍

[@markprior2278]

Porridge, Inspector Frost, Top Gear, the Young Ones, Bottom, Fast Show, League of Gentlemen just to name a few.

[@sazfretz1945]

I was waiting for Midsomer Murders to get a mention, as well as Upstairs Downstairs, the original Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett, and Dad's Army.

[@cjscrubs]

how the hell is life on mars not on this list?!

[@melaniesitoy5006]

Live action Mr. Bean not being here is criminal

[@maryturpel8413]

Brideshead Revisited, I, Claudius, To The Manor Born, The Irish R.M., Rumple of the Bailey, The Forsyte Saga (1967), The BBC Television Shakespeare, Upstairs, Downstairs, Jeeves and Wooster, - to name a few. It would be easier to compile a list of the Bottom British TV Series of all Time.

[@tuulikkitammi9144]

Also: BBC:s Pride and Prejudice from the 90's... unless we're leaving out miniseries. Because that one is still doing the rounds.

[@chrisz8585]

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett (Holmes) and David Burke & Edeard Hardwicke ( Watson)

[@worlddd7777]

Uh yes, that series made all other Sherlock actors in history look like amateurs

[@PedroConejo1939]

I'm surprised Dad's Army wasn't in the mix. Of all the Croft and Perry series, the best.

[@WatchMojoUK]

Definitely an all time great!

[@iamliberator1101]

Definitely R U B S

[@kris242]

Honorable mention for The Mighty Boosh. I truly don’t think any tv series ever made could even try to top the imaginativeness of that completely bonkers masterpiece.

[@ihateunicorns867]

I don't get this feeling much, but I remember seeing The Mighty Boosh for the first time and thinking "I've never seen anything like this before". Spaced, The Mighty Boosh, and Fleabag were the British shows that gave me that feeling. That's not a comment on their quality, but just that they really felt totally original.

[@natasjakoole3601]

Pride & prejudice the 90’s series that inspired Bridget Jones’s Darcy, Morse, Vera, Bean,abfab, the young ones, time team, etc top 50 would probably still not be enough to list all that I love

[@TonyHavenMusic]

Top 20 without Porridge, Dads Army, Peaky Blinders, Black Books, Silent Witness, Midsummer Murders, Jonathan Creek, Yes Minister, Dinner Ladies, Mr Bean, Black Mirror, Poirot, One Foot In The Grave, League of Gentlemen

[@RedX101]

Top 100 British Tv series of all time

[@debbienorris7307]

Midsomer murders, Vera, Shetland, Silent witness are all excellent!! Usually I agree with your lists. Many on this list were short-term shows. Lots of good choices

[@misaeljoelvera6631]

The Prisoner (1967) with Patrick McGoohan, and The Singing Detective (1986) with Michael Gambon

[@Dej24601]

Many of the shows from Masterpiece Theater were groundbreaking and made British series become global phenomena. Sadly, too many viewers today are unfamiliar with them. Despite the lower budgets many had, and sometimes the need to do sets like theatrical stages, the actors in these shows reflect some of the greatest in British history and many are based on classics of writing that are themselves, masterpieces. The first three (of many) that come to mind are: - I, CLAUDIUS. - THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN. - BRIDESHEAD, REVISITED. Each features an unbeatable cast, and the content of the stories are deeply profound.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

YES!

[@user-vs7el9wm3d]

No Morse/Lewis/Endeavour? No Last of the Summer Wine? No Midsumer Murders? No As Time Goes By? What kind of list is this?

[@JblackSupportTeam]

Yes. Endeavour.

[@helencourtnell5621]

Oh my goodness - just too many to name .. Yes, Minister, Yes, Prime Minister, Keeping Up Appearances, Last of the Summer Wine, Are You Being Served, Open All Hours, Absolutely Fabulous, Gentleman Jack, Killing Eve, Inspector Morse, Endeavour, Lewis, Midsommer Murders … I could go on and on.

[@aprilpotter3054]

"Are You Being Served?" "Good Neighbors," "Vera," "Upstart Crow," the list goes on. It's next to impossible to narrow it down to 10.

[@purrceys7959]

You missed - Life on Mars, Broadchurch, one of the Morse shows (my choice would be Endeavour), Foyle's War, Mr. Bates vs the Post Office

[@s.d.357]

There are so many... British TV shows are the best. I missed All Creatures Great and Small (the classic) and Being Human. Kind regards from Austria.

[@ladycplum]

Being Human was brilliant, but I kind of lost interest when Mitchell was killed off.

[@badfairy9554]

love Being Human. It's everything.

[@masmith8308]

The Good Life (Good Neighbors in the US), sitcom from the 70s.

[@indubitablysoyall]

No AbFab?

[@just_kos99]

Let's see, you've got Doctor Who for number one, as it should be, and also Monty Python, Black Adder, Downton Abbey and Red Dwarf in there, so this Yank is satisfied :) thank you!

[@Kate4267]

I agrée & I’m a yank! 😉😘

[@hollyvanwye9294]

I, Claudius should have been on the list. Also Father Ted, Midsomer Murders, Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel in the Crown, and Life on Mars. However I do agree with your pick of Doctor Who for #1.

[@jamesthompson2065]

No Top Gear is shocking.

[@worlddd7777]

I Claudius, absolutely best history tv show of all time.

[@dollyknockers4753]

As time goes by, vicar of dibley and keeping up appearances are favs here

[@torilove4868]

No Peaky Blinders?

[@Dej24601]

A Touch of Frost.

[@einahsirro1488]

How could you leave out Midsomer Murders??? It's on its 24th season! And Poirot???

[@Makman1994]

Father Ted is amazing! While it's set in Ireland, it was made by a British production company.

[@taniagoldman]

Mid somer Murders, a Touch of Frost. There are so many wonderful shows. there needs to be a list of 100.

[@peachesrambo4037]

What about Rumpole of the Bailey?

[@TT-fq7pl]

A fantastic show. Probably my favourite.

[@busterandloulou]

There were so many excellent shows left of your list. For example: the Avengers, Broadchurch, Are you being served, keeping up appearances, life on mars, Blake’s seven, the tunnel, Steptoe and son, Our girl, and several more not mentioned in this video.

[@footballfanar9717]

Very surprised not to see One Foot in the Grave featured on this list. Undoubtly had a harder edge to it than OF&H for example, but still an all time classic.

[@MarieBernard-tp3ow]

Prime Suspect/ Scott and Bailey/Criminal/Esat Enders/Gentleman Jack

[@maryromy1276]

Why you people always cite Eastenders? I don't get it, really. Usually soap operas aren't regarded as "good television"

[@Moonladyify]

As an American who lived in the UK for over 10 years, I’m surprised The Inbetweeners, Life on Mars, Mr Bean, Benny Hill, Misfits and Black Mirror are not included, or is this too modern?

[@robinhazell6019]

Death in Paradise should be in the top 10, but not even a mention.

[@ereini0n]

The Professionals should be up there too!

[@TheSpiciestGinger]

My top 25 British shows or shows I'd love to come back = Father Ted, Inbetweeners, Only Fools and Horses, Keeping Up Appearances, One Foot In The Grave, Harry Enfield and Chums, Red Dwarf, Young Ones (or Bottom), Nevermind the Buzzcocks, Graham Norton show, Monty Python, Top Boy, and An Audience with..., EastEnders, Corrie, Hollyoaks, Crimewatch, Line of Duty, The Bill and Absolutely Fabulous, Rub Wax show, Jo Brand Show, Lenny Henry show, Jeeves and Wooster and Nurses, London's Burning, Art Attack, CDUK/SMTVLive, Big Breakfast, Biker Grove and Peep Show

[@TheSpiciestGinger]

My 30* I edited 😋

[@TonyHavenMusic]

Yeah I thought Corrie would be number one but they obviously skipped over Soaps sadly

[@kristofdecraene7954]

you forgot Inside No 9 and the Fast Show!

[@rtaylor7384]

Primeval. They show look like it been forgotten but it will always be remembered to me.

[@Harldin]

Never the same show after Cutter was killed off, never able to find that team leader to replace him.

[@DynamixWarePro]

I have been rewatching the IT Crowd. It is still funny to me, even after seeing every episode quite a few times, same goes for Red Dwarf. Seems a top 20 isn't enough. Some of my favourites that were left out: 1. 'Allo 'Allo 2. Keeping Up Appearances 3. Midsomer Murders 4. Father Ted 5. A Touch of Frost 6. Last of the Summer Wine 7. The Two Ronnies 8. Death In Paradise 9. Top Gear 10. Mr Bean 11. Larkrise to Candleford 12. The Avengers 13. Minder 14. Desmond's

[@ferleiva7080]

No Prime Suspect? Black Mirror? The Prisoner? Utopia? Max Headroom?

[@airspirit83]

Many good ones, but also many I never heard of (But then I'm Swedish). Some tv-shows you forgot to mention in this video that are my personal favorite where: * Midsomer Murders * Death in paradise * Allo Allo * Lark Rise to Candleford * Grantchester But I also love: * The Crown * Downton Abbey * Sherlock * Black Adder * Dr Who * Good Omen * Monty Pythons flying circus

[@CASM-ze7lb]

Peaky Blinders should have been on here!

[@lhall92201]

My parents had me watching British Television as a child in the late 70s and 80s. So glad they made this part of our regular viewing

[@Dej24601]

A masterclass in acting: TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY. Top of the line writing. (The follow-up of SMILEY’S PEOPLE was excellent but not quite as stunning.)

[@HeatherKirksey-ls6gk]

This is a great list to be sure, but I truly don't think such a list can be complete without Poirot or The Young Ones. Poirot, I believe, defines British murder mystery and was so insanely well-made and I'm not sure you get more British than David Suchet's interpretation of Agatha Christie. And The Young Ones changed the face of British comedy irrevocably. I would certainly argue (and I know I might be creating the environment for a comments argument) that it is far more influential and quite frankly better than Fawlty Towers. And one final quibble: while I do agree that what Moffat and Gatiss did modernizing Sherlock is totally brilliant and fresh and was insanely popular, the absolute best portrayal of the iconic detective was Jeremy Brett's.

[@ej3016]

ten fingers and ten toes up for Jeremy Brett’s Sherlock Holmes

[@brucebush5744]

The Prisoner, I Claudius, The Sweeney, Rising Damp, The Singing Detective, Minder, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Likely Lads. Yeah - I’m an old codger, and whilst I don’t agree that the past was any sort of golden age - yours is an “all time” list made by someone a lot younger than me.

[@MichaelMoorePDX]

Keeping Up Appearances Absolutely Fabulous The Vicar of Dibly To the Manor Born and of course... Are You Being Served?

[@user-xd1cm9vu9s]

the fact that multiple shows on this list have actors/writers/directors that also worked on doctor who shows just how ingrained in the history of british entertainment it is

[@peaceLove1988]

Good list Great shows.

[@david6294]

The groundbreaking The Young Ones should be there. Also The Bill is a surprise omission.

[@Harldin]

Surprise omission? 26 seasons and 2425 episodes, that would be the understatement of the year.

[@naimac1015]

You mention Faulty Towers, but not “Are You Being Served”? I loved that series about the Grace Brothers department store.

[@katherineagar8763]

Where is Peaky Blinders ?

[@dianakirsch8029]

Robin Hood & The Tripods had a massive impact on me in my childhood 🤩

[@mariaisabelfalconi6513]

I haven't watched that many but... I'd say I'd include Prime Suspect and Absolutely Fabulous...

[@jeffpope3221]

Broadchurch, Endeavour, Shetland, Vera, Inspector Morse, Doc Martin, The Young Ones and The Prisoner

[@susanpilling8849]

We could have done with two lists - comedy and drama. Add The Duchess of Duke Street, BBC's Pride and Prejudice, Gentleman Jack.....in fact add a category just of historical drama because not many do it as well as British TV. Yes Minister, Yes Prime Minister, House of Cards, No Job for a Woman were all great political programmes.

[@NS_first]

I think Being Human and The Fades are very unique shows… I liked them. They didn’t last the same way for me as Dr Who, but they’re still very good

[@FrauM.]

Oj, Mr. Bean deserved at least an honourable mention. ❤

[@kriskrystyniak5643]

The Prisoner is my all time #1. I, Claudius The Avengers Yes, Minister Killing Eve (until the last five minutes of the finale!) The Saint As Time Goes By Keeping Up with Appearances Are You Being Served And, of course, Masterpiece Theater

[@VaughanCockell]

How could you leave out the two greatest series about Government - Yes, Minister and House of Cards? Both masterpieces of writing and acting, and so very different in tone. Also, not including the 80s Miss Marple and/or Hercule Poirot in there? Disappointing.

[@RamZar50]

- Mr. Bean - Are you being Served? - Peaky Blinders - The Last Kingdom - The Tudors - Killing Eve - Coupling - The Singing Detective - Thunderbirds - Harlots - Slow Horses -

[@hellskitchen10036]

Monty Python , The Prisoner , The Avengers , Mr. Bean , Foyles War , Are You Being Served , Keeping Up Appearances , Upstairs Downstairs , The Saint , To the Manor Born , just to name a few and I'm from New Jersey !

[@bookshopgirlilmariel2510]

Am I the only one who thinks Spooks should have made the list? Started many acting careers as well. Great show

[@victorwinters36]

I think that I am the only person in world, that still has not seen Doctor.Who. 😊😊

[@TT-fq7pl]

I've never seen it either. And I'm 60 and have seen tons of British TV.

[@NStillman]

Yes, Minister; Vicar of Dibley!! [NONONN YESEYES]

[@ellie9311]

No BBC Ghosts or The Vicar of Didley or The Inbetweeners then, I hope you will do another top 20 list with this shows on it and many others that didn't make it

[@blancaespino1227]

What about Mr. Bean, Midsummer Murders and Benny Hill? At least an Honorable Mention

[@LucyJordan84]

My personal gem is "My Family"

[@irenebritgal]

No Life On Mars??? You're kidding me

[@nigeljames5622]

Swap Downton for 'Upstairs Downstairs', 'Luther' for 'Inspector Morse' and 'The Thick of It' for either 'The Inbetweeners' or 'The Vicar Of Dibley' and you have a top list

[@timster4269]

Are you Being Served? Keeping up Appearances and Midsommer Murders

[@syedmuhammadali628]

Only Fools and Horses and Blackadder are the true Masterpieces for. Although I watch Doctor Who to this day but "THE TIMELESS CHILD" ruined it for me.